Henricksen: Preseason conference favorites (Part II)

With high school basketball practices across the state set to begin next week, the City/Suburban Hoops Report continues its look this week at all the conference favorites throughout the Chicagoland area.

You can find the Preseason Conference Favorites: Part I here.

• Southwest Prairie

Team to beat: There is a moment of transition in this league this season with high-scoring, Division I talent Aaron Jordan (Plainfield East) and Trevor Stumpe (Plainfield North) moving on to college. Oswego, with five key players returning, gets the early nod.

• South Suburban Blue

Team to beat: One of these years, Hillcrest isn’t going to win a conference title. This isn’t the year. Even with the Hawks coming back to the pack a bit, the rest of the league hasn’t caught up.

• Southwest Suburban Blue

Team to beat: Defending league champ H-F remains dangerous and Bolingbrook, despite some heavy losses from a Class 4A third-place finisher, has young talent in place. While it may be a year early, Joliet West, led by the junior duo of Trevian Bell and Teyvion Kirk, will be one of the most improved teams in the Chicago area and the Hoops Report’s favorite here.

• Southwest Suburban Red

Team to beat: Is it Bradley-Bourbonnais’ time to get over the hump and finish off its program’s rejuvenation with a league title? Thornton, Thornwood and Lincoln-Way West are talented and big obstacles, but the edge goes to the Boilermakers. Star point guard Micah Bradford, 6-8 Zach Hollywood, a James Madison recruit, and shooter Peter Gray are a terrific trio.

• Upstate Eight River

Team to beat: While the league will take a step back from a memorable 2014-2015 season, it’s still going to be one fun race at the top with St. Charles East and Geneva the headliners once again. Give the edge to St. Charles East with the guard play of James McQuillan and Evan DiLeonardi.

• Upstate Eight Valley

Team to beat: Expect the two old DuPage Valley Conference rivals, West Aurora and Glenbard East, to fight over the top spot in the UEC Valley. West Aurora’s junior class went 25-0 last season –– and that was with potential difference-maker Cameron Donatlan, a 6-0 sophomore, averaging 8 ppg at the varsity level.

• West Suburban Gold

Team to beat: Worst to first? Why not? Though Hinsdale South, Proviso East and Morton will all be threats, Downers Grove South has juniors ready to impress in 6-5 T.J. Clifford and shooting guard Denis Alibegovic, while 6-7 Donovan Ferguson is an emerging talent in the senior class.

• West Suburban Silver

Team to beat: Long and athletic, along with experience and rising young talent, make Oak Park-River Forest the favorite in what should be a deep and competitive league. This team returns veteran reliability in guard Breshawn Wilkerson, 6-3 Connor Fuller, 6-4 Cameron Gross and 6-5 Jared Scott.

Follow Joe Henricksen and the Hoops Report on Twitter @joehoopsreport